What is Flax?
• Flax is a small grain with a nutty taste. Flaxseed is the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids. Only ground flaxseed provides the health benefits of fiber in addition to the omega-3s and lignans. It is the combination of these three elements which studies have found to be most beneficial. People may be familiar with the fact that omega-3s are also found in cold water fatty fish including salmon. Flax is also available as a supplement and an oil. Many people prefer the taste of ground flaxseed to the oil.
Flaxseeds come from flax. Flax is an oilseed just like canola and sunflower are oilseeds. But one thing that is unique about flaxseeds are the excellent health benefits they provide. There are three main components of flaxseed that account for many of its health benefits. These include the fat content of flaxseeds, the fiber content of flaxseeds, and the lignan content of flaxseeds. Flax Fat: A Healthier Option Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fat. This type of fat is similar to the healthy fat that is found in fatty fish such as salmon. Over half of the fat in flaxseeds is the omega-3 variety. Omega-3 fats are a type of unsaturated fat and they are much healthier for us than saturated fat. Saturated fat is the type of fat that is found in animal foods, such as beef and high fat dairy, like cheese and whole milk. A small amount of saturated fat in the diet is OK. Too much saturated fat can increase risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. Omega-3 fats on the other hand, like the fa
